ROCHESTER, N.Y. – My friend Steve McLaughlin and I both graduated from the SUNY Brockport meteorology program years ago. While I went into a career in broadcast meteorology, Steve joined the National Weather Service. Recently, he provided a demonstration of a radiosonde launch, commonly known as a weather balloon, which offered an inside look at one of the more vital tools in atmospheric science.
A weather balloon is filled with either helium or hydrogen and ascends through the atmosphere, collecting critical data along its path. These balloons are launched twice daily, at approximately 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., providing consistent snapshots of the atmosphere’s vertical profile.
Beneath the balloon is a lightweight string carrying a small, cost-effective instrument package which is often recycled. This radiosonde transmits real-time data as it rises, measuring temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, altitude, and GPS location. The nearest launch site to our area is located just outside the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
Once released, the radiosonde is carried by the prevailing winds, which gives us wind speed and direction at various altitudes. For the News10NBC First Alert weather team, this data is invaluable. It provides a three-dimensional view of the atmosphere, helping us better understand storm development, predict weather patterns, and is an integral part of our computer models.
In addition to immediate forecasting applications, the data collected contributes to long-term climate analysis and helps improve the accuracy of weather prediction systems worldwide.
First Alert Weather In-Depth: Above the clouds and how weather balloons shape our forecast WHEC.com.
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